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Barkerville and the Cariboo Gold Rush Played FRIENDS OF BARKERVILLE Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society Volume 14, Issue 3 - September, 2010 In this issue: *The winning essay for the Jerry McDonald Memorial Award *All about Dominion Day by Neil Vant * Barkerville Curatorial Projects – Summer 2010 IT’S BEEN A BUSY SEASON IN BARKERVILLE Barkerville has been very busy with many events to take part in. It was a very busy Dominion Day, with many activities such as a parade, a BC Provincial Heritage Fair display and parade, children’s games and fireworks. There was also a group of Morgan Roadster Cars called “Morgan’s Over America “who came and stayed in Barkerville overnight as part of their organized road trip. At the end of July/beginning of August, ArtsWells was again a rip roaring success, with many performances taking place in Barkerville also. Winners in the BC Provincial Heritage Fair parade down the street. There were two book readings by authors – one on July 30th by Lynne Stonier Newman and the other on August 1st by Ann Walsh, who read from her Barkerville children’s novels in the Barkerville Hotel. On August 6th, it was St. Saviours Institute Night, where the employees and street theatre people perform in the Church, with many laughs and some funds raised for the Church, as well as refreshments afterwards. On August 15th the Masons had their annual Church Parade Morgan’s parked at Barkerville The next major event was the Autumn Moon Festival, which was also quite successful, although marred by a great deal of smoke in the air. The fire risk also caused the fireworks to be cancelled. We have had every kind of weather condition this summer – which is usual – now it seems fall is here. From rain to heat to smoke! 1 EDITOR’S CORNER EXECUTIVE Well, this newsletter is a bit President: Doug Perdue 250-747-1695 overdue, but with juggling Vice-president: Richard Wright 250-994-3340 the store and demands of a Secretary: Grant Johannesen 250-992-1296 busy household (my family Treasurer: Tony Bensted 250-992-5958 has been visiting) something OTHER DIRECTORS: Lana Fox, Robert Grady, Andy had to wait. It’s been a great Motherwell, Dave Jorgensen, Rick Galbraith, Jim Gorsline, season out in Barkerville, Larry Gardner with lots of interesting people, good weather – until lately and CONTACT INFORMATION: The Friends of Barkerville- lots of fun and well attended events. There has been so much Cariboo Goldfields Historical Society (commonly abbreviated to going on that it is hard to pick just one thing to talk about. I FOB) has its registered mailing address as P.O. Box 4152, appreciate all those who contribute to the newsletter and Quesnel, B.C.V2J 3J2. FOB staff is in the Barkerville Hotel encourage those who haven’t to think about doing so. th (mid-May to end-September), phone 250-994-3360. In the off Barkerville will be open until September 26 , but is still open season, contact any executive director. Our e-mail address is: to wander through – and don’t forget about Victorian th [email protected] . Christmas – this year on December 11, 12 & 13 /10. Maybe Our web site is: www.barkerville.bc.ca we will see you then! MEMBERSHIP: A FOB membership application is invited Presidents Report – by Doug from anyone wishing to share our enthusiasm for preserving, Perdue presenting and promoting knowledge, events and memorabilia of Fall is on its way. The Friends of Barkerville Annual General the original Cariboo Gold Rush and its hub city, Barkerville. Meeting can’t be far behind. The Membership gives the member (i) a voice and a vote at the AGM is scheduled for 6:30 pm, Annual General Meeting, (ii) opportunities to attend executive October 7th at the Wee Chippie meetings, (iii) the right to run for office, (iv) discounts at Restaurant in Quesnel. This is a associated historical attractions and businesses. great opportunity to become more DIRECTORS MEETINGS: Most of our regular meetings are involved in the day to day scheduled for the first Thursday of each month at @5:30pm in operations of the Friends. If you Quesnel. There will be a couple of meetings a year in would like to become a director, let Barkerville. one of the current directors know MERCHANDISE: The Friends of Barkerville offer souvenirs, and they can fill you in on what is gifts, historical books and memorabilia for sale from the involved. You are also welcome to come to the AGM to find Barkerville Hotel during the Town's open season and Christmas out what the Friends have been up to for the year. Remember weekend. ‘the world is run by those who show up.” The Friends have THE NEWSLETTER is FOB's medium for presenting the been busy over the summer negotiating a trail maintenance society's mandatory publications and general news to members. agreement with the Government for the historic trails around It is published three times a year, exclusively to FOB members Barkerville. The agreement will give us the opportunity to and free of charge. It is internet published on the FOB webpage, manage the types of use on the trails. If we go ahead with an or is mailed to members without computers. The Editor is Cathy agreement there will be some “work” involved to hike the trail Eisma. Inquiries, letters and contributions can be sent directly to network and identify any safety and maintenance issues that her at [email protected], phone 250-994-3283, or can be should be addressed. If you are on the trails, an email to the submitted to The Editor, c/o FOB. (See Contact Information) Friends would be helpful if you see something that you think CREDITS: All material in THE NEWSLETTER is copyrighted needs some work. The maintenance work at the old by FOB and the contributor in common, unless otherwise noted. Barkerville cemetery went ahead this summer. The trails in the The contributor is the editor, unless otherwise noted. The front cemetery have been cleaned up which makes getting around a cover illustration is by Diana Gauthier. The Friends of lot easier. The Friends has contributed funding to the Barkerville and the editor especially, is always looking for help. maintenance that has been carried out under the direction of The organization is involved with restoration and maintenance the Barkerville Heritage Trust. The Seven Summits hike and th of artifacts, buildings, machinery, work, publications, and ride is scheduled for September 18 . This is a good chance to archival work, supporting town activities, fostering growth, and experience some of the trails around Wells and Barkerville. If offering volunteer assistance at many events. The newsletter you aren’t so energetic, volunteers are also needed for the needs society news and wishes to give our reader’s interesting event. Check out www.whitegold .ca for more information on stories along with it. Thank you. the Seven Summits. The Annual General Meeting will be held October I hope you have enjoyed the summer and have a great fall. 7th, 2010, 6:30pm at the Wee Chippie Fish & Chips at 490 Carson Ave in Quesnel. 2 MEMBERSHIP FACTS Another season is almost past. this summer as you see lots of blue thumbs on Soon Barkerville will go into people on the street. hibernation for another winter Huckleberries seem not to be as abundant, but the but will open its doors again to size and quantity of the high bush was delicious. Victorian Christmas weekend, If anyone who has hiked the above trails and has Dec. 11, 12 & 13. any suggestions or concerns please let us know as Membership to the Friends of we would like to address these if possible. Barkerville has surpassed last year’s total of 1130 to 1228 this season. Once again Barkerville and the Cariboo Gold thank you to all who continue to renew and support the Friends and Town of Barkerville. Rush played a significant role in the The bulk of our membership is Quesnel residents founding of the Province of British followed by Prince George and Williams Lake. Our Columbia and newsletter mail-out list is down considerably which is good for the Friends as this helps to cut costs on a Canada reaching from Coast to postage and envelopes. The majority of our members Coast! use the internet to access and down load our By Neil Vant, MLA newsletter. Till next time…. for Cariboo 1986- 1991 and Minister of Transportation FOB TRAILS REPORT and Highways FOB is looking into a “Recreation during that era Trail Maintenance Partnership Neil is Past Master Agreement” with the Ministry of of Cariboo Lodge Tourism, Culture and the Arts. This No. 4 and is a Founding Director and the Immediate Past Chairman of the Barkerville agreement will cover the 1861 Gold Heritage Trust. Rush Pack Trail, Grouse Creek Trail, Van Winkle Trail, Williams Creek Dominion Day now called Canada Day has been an Trail, Powder House Trail, and a important day in Barkerville since 1868! Indeed, before the section of the Cariboo Waggon Road. FOB Directors Crown Colony of British Columbia joined Canada as a Province in 1871, Barkerville’s residents pioneered the July will over the next couple of meetings discuss the 1st Celebrations of the Confederation of Canada. The contents of the agreement and decide if this is the way patriotic Americans that had come north for the Gold Rush we would like to see these trails maintained. As in made a big deal of July 4th and old Glory flew high in most agreements there are sections that some wording Barkerville. This made many residents in Barkerville is unclear to its exact meaning, a future meeting with nervous as in 1844 the Americans had seized the Oregon Territory which was loosely held under the Hudson’s Bay the Ministry will hopefully clear up any of these.
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